Forty Years at CAI-CV

Preface

I missed the first meeting of the 40th Anniversary Committee. Accordingly, I was appointed to write an article on the history of the Chapter. It has been quite an undertaking. I’ve relied on old Chapter Newsletters, Quorum magazines, my own memories, and memories of other longtime Chapter members to put this together. After a summary of the beginning and early years of the Chapter, this article reviews each year, providing highlights, mostly our many social/fundraising events, and mentions of Chapter members. Sadly, some members are no longer with us, but some are still around and actively involved with CAI-CV. I hope you enjoy this trip down memory lane!

The Early Years

It was 1981 when the seeds of our Chapter were first formed. Jerry Cavoretto, who had started Desert Association Management in 1975, also worked for Johnnie Dawson, developer of Seven Lakes Country Club in Palm Springs and Marrakesh Country Club in Palm Desert. Homeowners associations were these curious new entities created to operate housing developments. In order to agree to financing these new “entities,” banks started to require incremental building, meaning selling out phases of homes before opening new phases. Dawson asked Jerry “find out about homeowners associations.” Jerry did some research and learned of the Community Associations Institute, the national organization, and began the process of applying for a charter. Jerry worked with management company owners to organize the Chapter, including Bob Sandifer, who had started Resort Community Management, Jim Lewis, who worked for Bob and later started Desert Management

in 1981, and Melissa Layton, then with Ironwood Property. Dave Mieneke, with Irontree Management, was also involved. Gary Weidle (The Springs Community Assn.) served as our first president, and Bob Tuvell, CPA (Tuvell & Associates), served as president in 1982. Duke Baker (Classic Realty) served as president in 1983. We have one issue of the Chapter Newsletter for that year. It reveals that regular monthly programs were being presented at Ironwood Country Club, although we went dark in the summer. Featured speakers were Wayne Guralnick (Guralnick McClanahan & Zundel), and representatives of the Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD), Southern California Gas, and Southern California Edison. Wayne Guralnick served as president for 1984. The one newsletter we have for 1984 promoted the CAI’s PMDP (Professional Management Development Program) course offerings. The closest classes available for our local managers were in Newport Beach. No such thing as remote learning back then. Sabby Jonathan (Maryanov, Madsen, Gordon & Campbell) took over as president for 1985. Other directors were Melissa Layton (Desert Resort Management), Wayne Guralnick (Wayne S. Guralnick, APLC), Norma Walker (Portola Country Club), Stan Feldsott (Feldsott, Lee & Gemert), Karen Conlon (George Elkins Co.), Al Smith (Palm Desert Greens), Charles Shiver (The Carlson Group), Fred Baughn (Rancho Casitas Homeowners Association) and Phyllis Jackson (Palm Desert City Council and Phyllis Jackson Realty). The November 1985 issue of the newsletter stated that the membership was at 60, and the goal was to increase membership by 25 percent. Members were encouraged to bring at least one guest to the programs. The Second Annual Round Table Seminar was presented on Saturday, April 13, 1985, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at The Lakes Country Club, and included lunch. Each table had a moderator from a different specialty, and topics included budgets and reserves, developer transition, energy conservation, new legislation, maintenance, management and security. Although this was the second Round Table Seminar, we have no information of the first. But it seems that these seminars were ambitious and foreshadowed the impressive education offerings we now have 40 years later. Our 1986 president was Mellissa Layton. The Chapter began its tradition of presenting the Annual Legislative Update. Wayne Guralnick, delegate to the California Legislative Action Committee (CLAC), was the speaker. Gary Weidle (Fortune West Management) also served as a CLAC delegate. Al Smith served as president in 1987, and Jeff Lilley (State Farm Ins.) served as president in 1989. Board members were Jim McCaughey (FirstBank), Bobbie Gaffney (Resort Community Management), Gary Weidle, Sally Brown (DRM), Melissa Layton, Liz Jaeschke (NN Jaeschke Management), John Turnbull (The Lakes CC), Wayne Guralnick (Guralnick & Zundel) and CJ Klug (Palm Desert Greens). In January, the board decided to finish the year without a CED. The name of this CED, who was part-time, is not mentioned, and we have been unable to figure out who that was!

1989

Gary Weidle again served as president. Membership was at 90, and the goal was to increase membership by 10 percent by July 1990. Increasing membership was a central goal through the 1980s, and of course that continues.

The first annual Golf Tournament was held in May at Palm Valley Country Club. The tournament committee was chaired by Gary Butler (Asphalt MDs). Gary reported to the Board that the net income goal of $2500 was exceeded. Imagine if our current golf tournaments only brought in $2500! Today’s (prepandemic) golf tournaments bring in an average of $20,000 in net income!

The monthly programs were held at the old Columbia Savings and Loan in Palm Desert. The community room was free, and coffee and donuts were served courtesy of volunteers, including Joy Duigud (Resort Community Management), Lori Fahnestock (Fumea-Pest) and me. The cost to attend was $10 for members, $15 for nonmembers. Simpler times!

1990

C.J. Klug took over as president. David Peters (Peters & Kovalsky) edited the Newsletter, and wrote a Q & A column, “Dear David.” The Newsletter was up to 20 pages, and was filled with lots of timely and informative articles.

1991

Jerry Cavoretto was president, and the focus was on education for managers and board members. Many breakfast meetings were held at Denny’s. Jerry recalls that at one such meeting, with about 20 members present, it had started to rain.

About a half hour into the meeting the ceiling started leaking heavily and water poured down everywhere. Suffice it to say the meeting was quickly adjourned. Later in the year, we moved our monthly meetings to Sunrise Country Club.

1992

John Turnbull (Sunrise Country Club HOA) served as president. At this time, fundraising and opportunities to network and socialize became an important focus of the Chapter. The Golf Tournament was held in April, with Doug Robinson’s Lincoln Security Services foursome taking first place. In July 1992, Social Chair Lori Fahnestock organized an “End of Season Luau” at the Esmerelda Resort. It was a huge success.

Also in 1992, the Chapter hired Michael Neufeld as Chapter Executive Director (CED). The Chapter “shared” him with the Inland Empire Chapter.

The first trade show was held in November 1992: The “HOEDOWN” Trade Show and Community Association Day was held at the Hyatt Grand Champions. It was an all day affair, with all 48 booths decorated in a western theme. Four “mini-seminars” were also presented.

This year saw the addition of two more PCAMs: R. Carol Amar (Palm Desert Greens) and Carol Whitlock (DRM). We had three other PCAMs at the time: CJ Klug, Gary Weidle and Melissa Layton.

1993

The Chapter board recognized that the Chapter was dependent on volunteers for its success, and saw the need and obligation to honor our many volunteers. Thus, the first Awards Dinner was held on September 24, 1993.

Elly Dowd (Santa Rosa Cove Association) was president. Elly was the first homeowner member to serve on the board, and the first homeowner to serve as president. She oversaw the Chapter moving into its first office and brought the PMDP classes to the Desert,

making it a little easier for managers to work toward their PCAM designations.

Carol Amar was the editor of the Newsletter, which became the Quorum.

The fall National Conference was held in Seattle. The Chapter received the “Medium-Sized Chapter of the Year” award. Elly Dowd, John Turnbull (Sunrise Country Club) and CED Mike Neufeld accepted the award from National President Steve Harvill.

Terry O’Brien was named the new CED. Terry was a graduate of Yale University, studied law at the University of Minnesota, and had served in the U.S. Army. He then had a successful business career, and had a background in fundraising for nonprofits. Terry brought a great deal enthusiasm, and a special sense of humor, to his role.

We closed the year with the first Holiday Party at Rancho Mirage Country Club on December 17. Admission price was $12 and a pair of socks to be donated to Martha’s Kitchen.

1994

Kay Ladner (Morningside Community Association) served as president.

The Chapter made its TV debut in September. “CAI Reports” aired on channels 4 and 10 on Thursday evenings. The programs featured Chapter members addressing various association topics. The first “stars” included Kay Ladner, Gary Butler, Carol Fulton (LaBarre/ Oksnee Insurance), Julie Adamen (Palm Valley HOA) and myself.

The “Greatest Golf on Earth” tournament, again chaired by Gary Butler, moved from Palm Valley to Rancho Mirage Country Club.

In August, we boarded a bus bound for the Del Mar race track. Managers were treated to breakfast and “morning” beverages on the way down, and the sponsoring business partners had the opportunity to give a quick pitch about their businesses. Also, as we went down the road, Chapter Executive Director (CED) Terry O’Brien explained how to pick the winning horse. It was quite simple. The horse with the longest tail was sure to win. We believed him, since he was a true horse lover. “Evening” beverages were served for the ride home.

1995

Gary Butler took over as president, with his usual flourish. Well, he appeared in a diaper! Not such a big deal considering it was the New Year, right?

I don’t know whose idea it was, but

this was the year we formed a coed softball team. We were called “The Twits,” and led by head coaches Gary Butler and Dan Barnett (Packard & Associates). Team members included Peggy Redmon (Guralnick & Associates), Jim and Kathy Schilling (Valentine Construction), Cardinal Ambrose (Palm Desert National Bank), Kay Ladner, Josh Schilling (Valentine Construction), Dave Peters (Peters & Freedman), Wayne Carlson (Brabo, Carlson & Cahill ), Janice Weishaar (The Springs Community Association) and Cheryl Wyatt (Resort Community Management). CED Terry O’Brien was at every game, cheering us on, yelling at the ump, and generally making our (mostly) losing team a lot of fun. Steven Shuey (Desert Island Community Association), and Jerry Cavoretto (Desert Association Management) made most every game, too!

Initially, the Twits were, well, disappointing. No wins. Then on May 8, 1995, we won! By forfeit! Oh, well. We kept going, though, and started to legitimately win games. We changed our name to match our growing abilities: The CAI Flying Eagles.

The Awards Dinner this year was a special one. It was held at Mission Hills and featured the Stan Miller Big Band. President Gary Butler showed up in yet another costume, a “split personality.”

Monte Carlo Night was especially memorable. It was held at Palm Valley and we used a roaring 20s/speakeasy/depression theme. It was realistic to say the least. To enter, guests had to make their way around trash cans, trash heaps, bottles, and a drunken bum laying on the ground. Later, the bum made his way inside, checking out the action. He didn’t fit in among the glamorously dressed guests, and Palm Valley management actually asked him to leave, but he continued his rounds through the room. Well, it was no bum, exactly, it was Dan Barnett, another of our members frequently found in costume. He kept up the act throughout the evening. We talked about that for years.

Margaret G. “Gen” Wangler, Esq., CCAL, is retired from the law firm of Fiore Racobs & Powers, A PLC, where she served as a senior shareholder. Gen can be reached at genwangler@gmail.com.